CROSS OVER DRIBBLE

Photo Credit – Anthony Furina (Via Adelaide University)

3-Minute Read

Women

The Waatu stuck thick and thin with UTAS but eventually lost touch with them late as the UBL powerhouse got the job done on the road 59-76 in a gritty encounter at the State Basketball Centre.

It was tight opening to the match between the two teams with an enthralling battle between Sharna Thompson and Jemima Whitton (Viticulture & Oenology – 10 points, four steals and three rebounds) – two championship teammates with the Norwood Flames going toe-to-toe in the same barrel. Leah Bartlett however with seven opening term points led all from the front as UTAS took the lead 12-17 at the first change.

Quiet in the first term Thompson got rolling with plenty of solid makes with Waatu coach Lachlan Coppick trying to stifle the momentum with a timeout down 18-29. Enter Alice Sabine (Medical Studies) as she met the challenge with multiple makes helping keep the margin to a reasonable 26-35 at the main break.

The scoring spread further in the third with UTAS finding answers from their Hobart Chargers in Zoe Banks (Nine points and assists) and Thompson again – keeping touch was Jemma Tredrea (Physiotherapy) and Bella Woosnam (Nutrition & Sports Science – Nine points and three steals) as they muscled the Waatu into the contest with one to play 43-57.

A quick 9-8 run to open the fourth saw the Waatu stretch back into it through Tredrea and Caitlin Shillabeer (Physiotherapy) again 52-65. The answer came for the well balanced UTAS with Emmerson Wells consistent throughout the afternoon and Thompson finishing it off with another eight points in the final term.        

Tredrea continued her strong contributions with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists backed up well by Shillabeer with 12 points and six rebounds. Thompson player of the game notched 24 points, eight rebounds, five assists while Wells collected 18 points and 11 rebounds, Bartlett superb in the first half particularly finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Men

The Waatu Men kept their faint top four finals hopes alive but also secured their highest finish of the UBL with a thrilling 90-88 win over UTAS at the State Basketball Centre.

The opening saw a tantalising battle between two teammates of the runner up NBL1 Central final Central Districts Lions as Jack Stanwix and Ayual Garang (Architectural Design) found themselves going head-to-head. However difficult to stop going downhill Curtis Scott (Health/Medical Science) opened the first term with eight points but Garang was not far behind with five. A 17-5 run led by those two and Issac Hampel (Electrical Engineering) sparked early impact of Jordan Straatsma to take the 28-21 lead.

The Waatu continued to lead the charge with Garang nailing some big triples to give the Waatu a handy 39-25 advantage. After a quiet opening term Stanwix got busy with some key baskets to push UTAS back into it but a late pair of free throws from Scott saw the Waatu hold a handy 52-38 margin at the half.

The comeback for UTAS after the half was launched by Luke Brown and Stanwix (eight points for the term) as the pair rolled it back to 56-49 with a quick 4-11 run. A pair of key triples to Hampel dropped however kept the margin at a reasonable 70-58 with one to go.

UTAS charged their way back in through Straatsma and his work in the block again while Scott was being curtailed by the away side. Straatsma found his range from outside and paired with Stanwix cut it back to 83-79 – the Waatu calculating their approach through Thomas Mestrov (Banking & Finance) and Ahmed Nawasany (Computer Science) to keep them in front.

The Waatu failed to put the game away as UTAS struck back through Archie Stewart with the easy two-point layup, but UTAS were in the fouling situation needing to send Waatu to the line. Sending Scott the free throw line and after missing the first, made the second hit the front of the rim with Garang (eight in the final term) picking up the scraps dribbling it away and forced to foul. He missed the first and tried to miss the second, but it went in to make it 90-88 with one second left. UTAS turned it off fortunately on the last play and Waatu prevailed with one game to play – still had a slim home final alive depending on results ahead.           

Ayual Garang was the player of the match with 23 points and nine rebounds also containing Stanwix for majority of the game and even though quieter than previous weeks Scott still accumulated 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two blocks. Stanwix led all for UTAS eventually with 25 points, five rebounds, three assists along with arguably the most consistent of the match in Jordan Straatsma with 24 points and eight rebounds with Luke Brown also gathering 21 points and six rebounds.

The Waatu Women and Men are already secure in the top eight but if results go their way plus wins over another powerhouse in USYD – home finals are still open for possibility

Women – AU Waatu 59 (Tredrea 13, Shillabeer 12, Whitton 10) defeated by UTAS 76 (Thompson 24, Wells 18, Bartlett 11)

Men – AU Waatu 90 (Garang 23, Scott 22, Hampel 15) defeated UTAS 88 (Stanwix 25, Straatsma 24, Brown 21)    

Finals have arrived for both our teams – Catch all the action against UTAS & USYD from this Tuesday October 7 on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.

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Photo Credit – UNSW Basketball

3-Minute Read

Men

The Waatu Men put on one of the most impressive first halves in multiple seasons to down UNSW 70-98 at the City of Sydney Basketball Association Stadium to seal their third consecutive finals series appearance in a row.   

It was a pair of Panthers in Curtis Scott (Health and Medical Science) attacking from beyond the perimeter and in transition as him and Matthew Thomson (Project Management) dominated the opening proceedings gifting the Waatu a strong 7-20 start. Thomas Mestrov (Mathematics and Computer Science) from mid-range and Ayual Garang (Architectural Design) with the hook from in close once again made things incredibly difficult for the home side with consistent attack at the rim to leave it 10-26 at quarter time.

Scott continued the damage with contested mid-range makes for the Waatu with little response from UNSW – Garang draining another triple and backed it up with a steal and one-handed throwdown in transition that had UNSW seeing stars at one of the homes of the Comets. Garang kept his scoreboard ticking to record eight for the term but not to be outdone was Isaac Hampel (Electrical Engineering) with his own slam then followed it up with a triple himself to give the Waatu the 21-50 lead at the half.

The second half was much tighter, but the Panther pair once again put on a show with fancy footwork and work off the glass. Jackson Smyth kept the points coming for the home side but Hampel extended the Waatu’s lead with only a half court buzzer beater from Smyth falling for UNSW 43-76 with one to play.

The last term saw the margin stay even with Thomson getting some more burn time on the floor with multiple makes and the ability to make up for missing earlier part of the season. The comprehensive win finishing with a customary Everett Webb triple to put the Waatu into sixth place one game clear of ninth and with a home double header to finish the regular season.  

Scott rained in another 32 points with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals with Garang hitting form at the right time of the UBL season with 14 points. Newcomer in the last round Matt Thomson brought 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks to partner well with Thomas Mestrov with nine points and 10 rebounds. Smyth was the clear best for the home side with 31 points with three steals and five rebounds while Jacob Corry grabbed 17 points, and 11 rebounds.             

Everything from a home final to eight place is on the table at the mercy of the UBL – the saving grace is UNSW, UWA Maali and Curtin Uni Carnaby’s are all locked on four to three wins meaning their spot is secure in the eight.

Two wins over UTAS in third and USYD in second sets up a potential second to fourth place finish giving the Waatu an inaugural home final.

Women

The Waatu women have precariously left themselves at the mercy of the UBL draw after going down in a thriller to top eight contender UNSW 72-69 at the City of Sydney Basketball Association Stadium.

Pippa Davis and Gabi Neal got the home side off to a roaring start 12-3 before Caitlin Shillabeer (Physiotherapy) stuck the much-needed triple. Needing response it took the Norwood Flames quadrant of Annika Uzcategui-Montenegro, Alice Sabine and Jemima Whitton along with Shillabeer to bring the margin back a manageable 21-14 at the first change.

Bella Woosnam (Exercise and Sports Science) was the catalyst for the comeback with triples and multiple plays helping the Waatu back into the contest. Woosnam collated 10 points for the stanza while Chloe Gray had some large impact with nine points while the paint presence of AUM at the defensive end of the floor was being felt by the guards of UNSW as they margin closed to 34-37 with the Waatu taking the lead at the half

Third term did not go to plan for the Waatu out of the halftime break as the physicality increased with Jasinta Haydar dealing out plenty of pain in the paint. Her nine in a row for the home side before splashing another triple was complemented nicely by the work under the basket of Emily Nguyen (13 in last year’s win for UNSW). Xanthe Fitzgerald also came good after the half for UNSW as they won the quarter 20-8 to take the 54-45 solid lead into the last change – the Waatu in trouble.

Jemima Whitton (Viticulture/Oenology) has played with flow all season and hit the early floater with her teammate Sabine (Medical Science) providing the cure for the anxious moments with six offensive boards for the match. Shillabeer inspired upped the defence with the block as Sabine got out in transition for the finish to force timeout to UNSW 58-52 as the Waatu charged back.

Maddie Coman however had other ideas as she put some key points on the Waatu to push it to double figures. The Waatu answered back with big plays, but the offense was becoming sticky and stagnant in the circumstances with Shillabeer refusing to let this one slip still. The home side however answered each challenge with a timely make to keep the fifth to eighth race interesting.

In an even spread for the Waatu – Shillabeer finished top scorer with 13 points, nine rebounds while Alice Sabine produced her best effort of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Bella Woosnam kept them in the game with a triple on the full-time buzzer giving her 13 points with three steals with Whitton producing eight points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Four players for UNSW contributed 14 or more with Neal leading the way with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Despite the loss due to other results the Waatu Women will play finals for the first time in their history – the scenario becomes intriguing with the Curtin Uni Carnaby’s locked on five wins in sixth, UNSW on four wins in seventh and MUBC in eighth locked on three wins (Fed Uni are in ninth with one game left can snare the last spot)

A home final is possible with two wins this last round over second placed UTAS and third placed USYD – the lowest two losses and percentage slips them to seventh.                       

Men – UNSW 70 (Smyth 31, Corry 17, Yi Tian Zou 8) defeated by AU Waatu 98 (C Scott 32, Garang 12, Thomson 12)

Women – UNSW 72 (Neal 16, Coman, Fitgerald, Haydar 14, Nguyen 7) defeated AU Waatu 69 (Shillabeer, Woosnam 13, Sabine 10, Otto, Uzcategui-Montenegro Whitton 8)           

It’s all on the line for the final two matches of the UBL season as they aim to claim dual home finals – Catch all the action against UTAS from this Tuesday September 23 and USYD Wednesday from 11:00am ACDT on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.

We want to continue our work telling the stories of SA Basketball this winter and beyond with world championships, local legends, NBL and WNBL previews, reviews and NBL1 off season news and predictions – Can you PLEASE HELP US with a shotclock sub of $14 or $24 a year to help us do this?

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Photo Credit – Adelaide University Sports

3-Minute Read

Women

It took till deep into the fourth term, but the Waatu Women secured their fourth win of the season and are on the doorstep of the UBL finals for the first time with a close out of the UWA Maali 62-69 at the UWA Sport and Recreation Centre.

The Waatu women took on one of the teams they’ve had recent success against across their years in the UBL but a much-improved UWA Maali hit the floor hard in the opening term. Captain Jenna Teasdale for the home side who scored 22 points in their 2024 meeting in Adelaide was strong early with scoring the first few points with Sydney Meares looking dangerous (10 points, six rebounds and five steals) with both teams trading blows to leave it tight after one term 16-19.

Both teams missed plenty of long-range attempts to open the second term, but Teasdale once again kept the Maali in the contest with nine points in the quarter. Not to be outdone was the up and down court work of Jemima Whitton with six points but a lack of scoreboard contribution saw the Waatu down courtesy of Zoe Shanahan (Eight points, four assists and rebounds) with a fancy turn around seeing them out 35-28 at the main break.

Bella Woosnam came out of halftime with a triple despite the trailing margin for the away side sparking a three-point frenzy with Meaza Otto (11 points and three assists), Claire Hunter (11 points and three assists) hitting from deep to cut it right back in the third term. Hunter continued to gather the points in the stanza causing matchup problems and slashing the margin back to 49-46 with one to play.

With Waatu looking to make the finals with three games remaining including two home fixtures to close the regular season – a new face flew in with impact. Forestville Eagle Jemma Tredrea edged them in front and became a focal point for the Waatu with a quick seven points in a row. Whitton and her denting the confidence of the home side with Otto and Tredrea stretching it beyond a two-basket lead.

Tredrea extended it to double figures with another two points as the home side looked done, but Teasdale and Shanahan make saw coach Lachlan Coppick call for timeout to settle the nerves on the road. A turnover for the Waatu saw the Maali call for time with the after time out play seeing Keisha Chng’s triple force another timeout as the margin sat at four points.

Sending Whitton to the free throw line for one of two the Maali had several opportunities to cut the margin again but misses from beyond the arc to Chng, Ari Creighton and Chng off conceded offensive rebounds by the Waatu eventually ended with the ball in Tredrea’s hands who sealed the Waatu’s fourth win of the season and fifth place on the ladder – two wins clear of eight with three to play.

Tredrea’s debut was strong in the absence of Caitlin Shillabeer with 16 points and 11 rebounds backed up by a strong all-round game from a near triple double to Jemima Whitton with 14 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Jemma Teasdale notched 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists to lead all for the Waatu with Keisha Chng strong from outside with 13 points on four triples with five rebounds.                

Men

The Waatu Men kept their place in the top eight with a gunslinging matchup in the West against the UWA Maali 80-88 – a game filled with plenty of one-on-one showdowns of various degrees throughout the afternoon at the UWA Sport and Recreation Centre.

The opening term began as usual with two guns in Joe Harwood who scored 21 points last meeting in Adelaide and Curtis Scott coming to play for the Waatu keeping things entertaining early. A Damian Zhang triple however sparked a strong response of 0-11 from the Waatu as they seized into the lead 11-17. Keegan Schrick returned order to the home side with Lachlan Oakley hitting the buzzer beating triple to bring it back to 19-27 after one.

Curtis Scott was unstoppable as the great one produced eight points, and three assists enabled the Waatu to jump out but the triples from Oakley and Zhang kept raining in with Hardwood even flushing one down off the left hand dribble into two handed takeoff to spark the 7-3 run with a huge block to Schrick and Zhang’s triple forcing the timeout to Scott Freer. Riley Eves and Schrick helped snare back to the lead as momentum swung the Maali’s way and to a 46-43 lead at the half.

Waatu not impressed with the back end of the second term came out strong in the third renewed via Thomas Mestrov and Scott as the Waatu edged their way back in front. While drying up other sources Harwood continued to keep the Maali in the contest making timely baskets. A final minute push from Ahmed Nawsany with the turnaround jumper breaking the ankles of his opponent and Scott however fouled attempting the triple saw him go three from three from charity and gifting the Waatu a 63-70 lead with one to play.

The Harwood/Scott battle continued on the floor as the gunslingers in the west fired shot after shot in the fourth. Mestrov however was becoming a factor as he made multiple paint plays and grabbed plenty of glass as they stayed out by a healthy lead. The Maali had a last push at the margin with Harwood slamming another one down and Schrick trying to rain in more triples, but Scott closed it out with and1 play in a comprehensive finish to take the Waatu’s third win and sit in the top eight with three games to play.

Scott was sensational through four quarters with his 39 points, coupled with nine assists, seven rebounds the second highest ever individual total by a Waatu player just short of Men’s Darcy McNamara’s 42 points versus USYD. Thomas Mestrov was strong in the second half to finish with 10 points and nine rebounds with several other players making handy contributions. Joe Harwood was dominant again with 21 points, eight rebounds while Keegan Schrick was potent with 19 points, 15 rebounds and three assists in the finish.                                             

Women – UWA Maali 62 (Teasdale 18, Chng 13, Meares 10) defeated by AU Waatu 69 (J Tredrea 16, Whitton 14, Hunter, Otto 11)

Men – UWA Maali 80 (Harwood 21, Schrick 19, Oakley, Zhang 13) defeated by AU Waatu 88 (C Scott 39, Mestrov 10, Nawasany, Thomas 8)          

Catch all the action against UNSW from this Tuesday September 16 from 11:30am ACDT on the UBL website and stay tuned to the crossoverdribble for match reports and features throughout the season.

We want to continue our work telling the stories of SA Basketball this winter and beyond with world championships, local legends, NBL and WNBL previews, reviews and NBL1 off season news and predictions – Can you PLEASE HELP US with a shotclock sub of $14 or $24 a year to help us do this?

NEW – PITCH TO THE PUBLIC 

It takes 4 hours a week to write, research and produce our content but we want to write extra content this next few months so we thought we’d pitch to the public

Here are the next lot of articles up for pitching – subscribe to get these written

“All about Ability – the last five year’s of the Men’s Ivor Burge Program”

“The all-time Adelaide Lightning All-Stars Team – Naming the team of the past 30 years of Adelaide Lightning players”

Eight new $24 Shotclock subscribers will have the remaining of piece produced on the topic of

Another eight new $24 Shotclock subscribers or contributors directly will have both pieces done for production

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All Episodes of the SA Shotclock available on podcasting platforms in the coming months

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